I was recently contacted by an on-line medical device recall website. The editor had read my blog and asked me to write an article about my metal on metal (MoM) total hip replacement revision surgery and subsequent recovery for their community forum. I was happy to do this since there is little useful information out on the internet about this type of surgery and recovery.
I began by going back and re-reading my blog from the very beginning of my hip revision ordeal. I realized, that while I am on the road to recovery - I have not recovered as I would have expected to be 19 months post surgery. In fact, I think I feel even more betrayed by the medical industry since I am still not whole - not mentally or physically as a result of the defective MoM hip implant.
Many questions - few answers...
I am 19 months post surgery as I write this. I still suffer
from leg, muscle and joint pain as a result of the second THR revision surgery. As of October 2013 my Chromium levels are still elevated ( Cobalt is in normal range). I will have new labs taken in January 2014 to see if there is any change.
While the pain is not
excruciating, and at times is just a mild discomfort - it is always
present. The Doctors in their infinite wisdom (sarcasm) say the hip is stable
and everything looks great! But I’ve found that the Doctors really don’t
understand – because their knowledge comes from a text book – not from a real
life experience. They are doing the best they can (within the confines of
managed health care and their experience) – but I live in this body and I would
really like some answers as to why I feel this way.
- Why would after two surgeries and 19 months of recovery would I still have hip weakness, joint instability and pain in the surgery area and leg?
- I’ve been working hard to recover – I am not just sitting around waiting to get stronger! I am physically and mentally working every day toward 100% recovery – why then I am still struggling and having issues?
- What are the long term affects of the high levels of chromium and cobalt? No one seems to know the answer to that question. What will this mean to me long term?
- I can’t understand why the doctors aren’t more interested in these questions as well?
- Wouldn’t this knowledge help them as they treat future patients?
My hope is that all these muscle pains are just my atrophied muscles coming back to life – a little at a time. Perhaps these pains are compensating muscles that now have to overwork to make up for the muscles that are not working properly?
As always...Many questions – few real answers…
Just like dancers, more and more yoga teachers and practitioners are getting hip replacements. There is a huge connection between laxity and hip joint pathologies. We need to be careful in yoga not to compress the hip joint or over-stretch ligaments in the hip and sacral platform needed to keep the pelvic girdle stable in movement. Many yoga poses are not safe to do to keep the hips healthy for a lifetime. Staff poses, seated forward bends and asymmetrical twists can cause hip damage.
ReplyDeleteMany yogis also get tears in the labrum of the hip socket. See www.yogainjuries.com
Your article is very helpful, all be it distressing. I recently was tested and they found high cobalt and chromium levels. A metal compression MRI at Yale revealed a golf ball sized accumulation of fluid on my left hip implant which was put in 7 years ago. ( my right hip was done 5 years ago). I was astonished when the doctor told me I neeed a revision sooner than later. I have had both my knees replaced as well. I am also a small business owner (Flower and clothing boutique) for the past 28 years. I was a devotee of bikram yoga until my body started to fall apart. After reading about your nightmare, I am now terrified of what I face. Who is culpable and did you pursue any legal action against the manufacturer? I love my doctor and wouldn’t think of suing him but these companies that manufacture need to do their due deligence.
ReplyDeleteIncredible ordeal. My husband is in the process of a serious surgery like yours. Can you share with me what city in the USA you had your Hip Replacement?
ReplyDeleteI really simpathized with you, I am in so much fear of the procedure, and if this is successful, what about the post and the quality of life that he has to face from now on. He is schedule for the surgery on June 5th.2019
Very nice post here thanks for it .I always like and such a super contents of these
ReplyDeletepost.
Yoga Teacher Training Dharmasala
I just came across your blog. Like you I had a metal on metal hip replacement in 2009 in my right hip. The surgery was great. I recovered in no time. In late 2011 I began to feel pain in my hip especially when in bed and laying on that side. Walking became more difficult. I belong to an HMO and went to at least four orthopedists. The x-ray showed that the implant was stable. One doctor told me that the problem wasn't my hips but my back. He assured me that both hip replacements were perfectly fine. Other doctors told me the same thing. In the summer of 2017 I asked for an MRI. The MRI showed inflammation and liquid in my hip. A blood test showed high levels of metal and cobalt.
ReplyDeleteIn December 2017 I had a revision surgery with the metal cap being replaced by a ceramic cap. The surgeon told me that they had removed over 2 liters of fluid from the hip and that the metaloisis had eaten up all the muscle in my hip including the abductors. The pain/discomfort that had I suffered since 2011 never went away.
Twice in the last year as a result of having no muscle in the hip I have suffered a dislocation of the implant and had to go twice by ambulance to the ER where the doctor told me that the dislocation was a result of the lack of muscle in my hip and would likely happen again. The second dislocation took place at the beginning of June. The doctor wanted me to keep a commode on the toilet for several weeks. On June 23 as I left the bathroom in the early morning I tripped on one of the legs of the commode, fell and fractured my left hip. I had to spend 16 days in the nightmare of rehab and am home with 24/7 care. I am using a walker and as a result of having to put most of my weight on the right leg, I am suffering more pain in the leg than if the leg with the fracture.
I trace all of these problems right back to the faulty hip replacement and the failure of several doctors to properly diagnose it.
I am glad that i retired from my job as a wedding and portrait photographer as today I would not be able to work.
Good that you are doing so well.